Our privacy and safeguarding policy

Due to the sensitive nature of the work we conduct, the safety and security of the participants we gather data from is one of our core priorities at Gamechanger Surveys.

This policy sets out how we ensure the safety, privacy, and wellbeing of children and young people using our platform. We are committed to creating a safe, respectful, and positive environment where children can share their views and experiences without risk of harm.

Protecting child rights is a core priority of the online platforms we create, and in order to ensure this we always adhere to the following:

Design philosophy

• All our products are designed in line with best practices laid out by the UNICEF RITEC Design Toolbox.
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion are fundamental to the experiences we provide, and we are committed to ensuring our participants always feel welcomed and respected while engaging with our platforms.

Data collection and privacy

• All data will be stored securely in accordance with relevant privacy legislation, as dictated by the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020.
• All survey responses are confidential, and we will never disclose, sell, or share any personal information (such as participants’ names, email addresses, postal addresses, telephone numbers, payment details, location data, or similar) that can be traced back to our respondents.
• Access to identifiable information is restricted to authorised staff for legitimate research purposes only.
• In the event a participant is identifiable through the data, the identifying information is scrubbed from the database prior to being analysed or reported.

Informed consent

• Children and, where required, their parents or guardians, will receive clear, age-appropriate information about what data is collected, how it will be used, and their rights.
• Consent will be obtained before participation. Children may withdraw from the platform or any survey activity at any time without consequence.
• Where parental consent is not required (for example, in anonymous or aggregated surveys), children will still be given simple, transparent information to enable informed choice.
• Participants will never be required to disclose information they don’t wish to.
• Participants will always be given the opportunity to skip questions they don’t wish to answer.

Safety procedures

• No direct contact between participants and members of our team or other participants will occur through our platform.
• Our platforms are designed to minimise risk by ensuring that only age-appropriate games and language are used, and participants will never be exposed to material that may be deemed psychologically sensitive or harmful.

Responding to concerns

• If a child discloses harm or there are serious concerns about their safety, we will immediately notify the appropriate guardian or authorities (such as their school or the local police) best positioned to provide support.
• Information will only be shared with appropriate authorities, never publicly.

Review and continous improvement

• This policy will be reviewed annually, or sooner if there are significant changes in legislation, technology, or best practice.
• Feedback from children, whānau, and partners will inform updates.
• Gamechanger Surveys is committed to continuous learning and improvement to ensure the platform remains a safe and trusted space for children